According to data from Dow Jones VentureSource (PDF), reported this morning by (also Dow Jones-owned) The Wall Street Journal, VC investment into European companies rose to its highest figure since the third quarter of 2001.

European companies raised €2.6 billion in 345 deals during the quarter, a 41 percent increase compared to Q4 2014, even if the number of deals dropped 5 percent in the same period. The top deal was Rocket Internet’s injection of capital into Berlin-based Delivery Hero.

Notably, Germany was the most favoured destination for equity financing during the first quarter of 2015, receiving €921 million across 64 deals, while the UK came in second with €886 million raised.